Born in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, Marshall Crenshaw
learned to tune a guitar correctly at age ten and has been trying ever since.
His first big break came in 1978 playing John Lennon in
"Beatlemania", first as an understudy in New York, then in the West
Coast company followed by a national touring company.
Removing himself from that situation in Feb. 1980,
Marshall settled in New York City. After crossing paths with the great and
legendary Alan Betrock, Marshall recorded his debut single "Something's
Gonna Happen" (for Betrock's Shake Records label), which led to a deal
with Warner Bros. His debut album, Marshall Crenshaw, was acclaimed as a
masterpiece upon its release in 1982 and established him as a singular
songwriter, record maker, and guitarist. The album spawned the hit single
"Someday, Someway," and other classics such as
"(You're My) Favorite Waste of Time",
"Whenever You're On My Mind" and "Cynical Girl."
Over the course of a career that has spanned three
decades, 13 albums, Grammy and Golden Globe nominations, film and TV
appearances (Buddy Holly in "La Bamba") and thousands of
performances, Marshall Crenshaw's musical output has maintained a consistent
fidelity to the qualities of artfulness, craftsmanship and passion, and his
efforts have been rewarded with the devotion of a broad and remarkably loyal
fan base.
Along with touring around the country and the
occasional recording project, Marshall currently hosts his own radio show,
"The Bottomless Pit", every Saturday at 10 PM on New York's WFUV. Other
current projects include a documentary film-in progress about legendary record
producer Tom Wilson.
“Although he was seen as a latter-day Buddy Holly at
the outset, he soon proved too talented and original to be anyone but himself.”
- Trouser Press